Does the Chicago Bears have a top-10 head coach in the NFL?
Ben Johnson made an instant impact for the organization in his first year as the Chicago Bears' head coach, but where does Johnson rank among the other head coaches in the league.
Ben Johnson's first season as the Chicago Bears head coach ended with an NFC North title and a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. The 2025 season set the bar high for Johnson as he continues his head coaching career in Chicago. With Johnson's immediate success and turning around a team that struggled for relevancy within its own division, Johnson has positioned himself among the top coaches in the NFL.
But how far up on the coaching hierarchy should Johnson be ranked? NBC Sports ranked all 32 head coaches, and Johnson came in as No. 13.
In the explanation for Johnson, writer Patrick Daugherty highlighted how Johnson helped quarterback Caleb Williams reduce his sack total from 68 to 24 and the offensive EPA per play improved from 26th in the NFL to seventh. The offense also scored 131 more points than last season and finished ninth in scoring after being 28th in 2024. Daugherty also mentioned what Johnson and the Bears could face in the 2026 season.
"They were lucky in 2025, living off one-score, and even sometimes one-point, victories," Daugherty wrote. "Regression comes for even the best players and coaches. The follow-up will be 10 times more difficult than the opening act.